When I first saw this piece by Marvin or Marlon it was partially covered by a canopy to protect it from the rain/sun and as a result all I could see was the frog. It wasn’t until I returned the following day that I could see the frog in the context of the whole picture.
Marvin or Marlon, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
This is a very clever stencil, with a black and white section showing a shopping trolley abandoned in a wetland and to the right a contrasting full colour stencil of a tree frog. The picture tells a story of environmental degradation and the beauty of nature that is compromised.
Marvin or Marlon, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
The star of the piece though must be the frog, although my photograph doesn’t even begin to do it justice. Another cracker from Marvin or Marlon at Upfest.
At the launch of the ‘Cannon Fodder’ show last Friday I was lamenting the lack of wheatpaste artists in Bristol with Jimmer Willmott. It was Kid Crayon’s brilliant wheatpastes dotted around the city that inspired me to write about street art in the first place, but he has moved away from the form. However, what was very exciting was that Jimmer said he was thinking about doing some… now that would be amazing.
The exception to the rule occurs during upfest, when wheatpasters descend on North Street and festoon walls and lamp posts with their paste ups. One of the frequent visitors I look forward to each year is Face the Strange, and who can blame me with pieces like this one?
Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Face the Strange challenges the viewer by presenting ordinary images, often models from magazines, that have had major head surgery. This bizarre piece combines a suited worker with a seahorse… but of course why not? I am a big fan of this kind of distortion, particularly when combined with marine life. Fun.
Well here’s a whole box of fun from Boaster… a little bit too much fun perhaps. I love the style of this piece, and it reminds me a little of the imaginative creations that 3Dom produces from time to time. A wild cartoon-style reimagining of a crate.
Boaster, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
No stranger to Upfest, Boaster produced a posh monocle-wearing blue whale in 2017, and he obviously enjoys stretching the things we see around us and giving them new identities or personalities. A really enjoyable and humorous piece, definitely one for the quirky surrealists.
This week I have decided to share a whole bunch of doors from Bristol Temple Meads Station. Famed for its ‘passenger shed’ designed by I.K. Brunell and for being the focal point of the Great Western Railway (God’s Wonderful Railway) between London and Penzance.
Rather than photograph obvious doors in the station itself (apart from the first picture) I am sharing some of the doors located underneath the car park in front of the station. The structural archways have provided storage areas since the station was built and some have been hired out to private businesses, a common practice for railway infrastructure around the globe.
Small wooden kiosk, Temple Meads Station, Bristol
The Feature image and first picture show a small wooden kiosk just inside the main entrance of the station. I don’t know how many hundreds of times I have walked past this kiosk over the years, but I only recently noticed it. It is overlooked in one’s hurried efforts to shuffle through the barriers and onto the platforms. A little gem.
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, BristolDoors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – why the drill holes in the bottom of the door?Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – Repair work in brickDoors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – Danger
Finally the worst ‘best kept secret’ in Bristol – Hart’s Bakery – Creator of divine cakes, pastries, breads and life-limiting fancies. The bakery that makes it worth being early for your train to make a quick food diversion.
Hart’s Bakery, Arch 35, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – Arguably the best bakery in Bristol
So that’s it for this week.
More doors to be admired by following the links at the end of the fabulous Norm 2.0 blog: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0
Woah, steady on there… I love this crazy piece by Tknaizer. The artist, from Georgia, seems to have a thing for giraffes, and in my mind that is absolutely ok. Who doesn’t love a giraffe?
Tknaizer, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
This piece was painted in North Street Green and had to compete for attention with dozens of others but certainly attracted my attention. There is something endearing and compelling about the simple and naive style. Sometimes less is more. Despite the rather gloomy narrative, I find the giraffe full of optimism and serenity. It is always great to welcome these overseas artists to Bristol and see the range of talent on offer.
Alas, this piece by Mr Penfold did not last long after Upfest, and has since been replaced by a wonderful piece featured on Natural Adventures by SPZero76. The wall is an interesting one in that it is curated by the Hangfire Gallery just opposite, and although the piece appeared during Upfest, I don’t think it constitutes an ‘official’ Upfest piece. I have to say that I am not all that bothered by such things, but I love the abstract work that Mr Penfold has created.
Mr Penfold, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
His work has a real feel of the 1980s about it, a vibrancy and brashness that assaults the eyes with colour and shapes that draw attention. The other thing I associate with his work is Liquorice Allsorts, because of the blacks, pinks, light blues and yellows… yum yum.
I have plenty more pieces by Mr Penfold and feel he is somewhat under represented in this blog… I think that’ll have to change.
When I looked at this collaboration for the first time I found it rather peculiar because it carries three very different styles and subject matter and the only common thread at first sight appears to be Upfest. However, this primary assessment rather overlooks several other important factors in creating a good collaboration.
Process, Korp and Winniemmay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Firstly, I think that the chemistry between collaborators is hugely important which is why for example, SPZero76 and Kid Crayon collaborate brilliantly despite very different styles – they are great collaborating friends. So, in this collaboration between Process, Korp and Winniemmay one can see some good vibes going on. There is also a design thread that carries through the whole piece of black and white dots and dashes, suggesting Morse code (but I think that is me over-thinking it).
Process, Korp and Winniemmay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
The overall outcome is certainly curious and apparently fragmented, but dip in a little further and the whole is probably greater than the sum of the parts. If there is a story here, I’d like to know it, but for me the whole thing stands up for me and it is really interesting piece.
I have said it ad nauseam that Mr Klue is being incredibly productive these days and I guess I will continue to say it for as long as he keeps painting these wonderful pieces. This slightly smaller than usual one contains a character who appears reasonably regularly on Mr Klue’s work.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
There is the suggestion of a man in a shirt and tie wearing what looks like the Mad Hatter’s hat complete with 10/6 label. I like the smokey, wispy abstract style that Mr Klue uses and the fact theat he is constantly playing with etherial ideas. All good.
So, continuing on from my last post, it seems almost inconceivable that the same artist could paint two street masterpieces on the same building in the space of a couple of weeks, but somehow Kin Dose has done it and pulled it off with consummate style.
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
In this second piece the artist has created a scene with an oriental ‘Hokusai’ sea and waves harbouring a lotus flower and koi carp. In the centre of the sea is an island with an ornate dragon whose face is highlighted by a full moon.
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
This piece is rather difficult to photograph because of the nature of the wall, which incorporates a staircase, and the amount of street furniture knocking around, so I would recommend that any Bristolian reading this gets themself down to Nelson Street to witness this for themselves.
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
The dragon is beautifully painted and nicely detailed, but it is the amazing contrast with the red sky and white moon that really lifts this beast from the wall. The tail of the dragon disappears into the sea to the left of the piece.
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
The whole thing is magnificent. How much more can Kin Dose give?
